Wolverines Capture Conference Title, #1 Tournament Seed

Not since the University of New Hampshire accomplished the feat in 2001 with a record of 6-0 has a team in the New England Club Baseball Association gone undefeated in the regular season. Now the 2009 Wolverines can stake their claim as they swept three games this weekend to end the season with an unblemished mark of 11-0. In the process, they won the Northern Division title and head into the NECBA championships seeded #1.

In Friday’s game, pitcher Gabe May (Portsmouth, NH) was supported by a fifteen hit attack as BA topped Merrimack College 8-4. In the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader, the Wolverines held a 2-1 lead into the seventh inning over Southern Division leader Fairfield University. But Fairfield struck with two runs in the top of the seventh to go up 3-2, but BA struck back with two runs in the home half to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory. Southpaw Will Whittemore (Waltham, MA) helped his own cause with a lead off double in the seventh and scored the tying run on a RBI single by Tad Gold (Vineyard Haven, MA). Gold immediately stole second and scored the wining run on Tom MacInnes’ (Plymouth, MA) single to right.

BA’s final game was a 5-2 win over Holy Cross College. MacInnes and reliever Dustin Brown (East Falmouth, MA) limited the Crusaders to two unearned runs. Down 2-0, Mike Bullett (Stamford, VT) tied the score in the third inning with a two run double to centerfield. BA added one in the fifth and two in the sixth inning on good base running and a well executed hit-and-run by Mike Murphy (Lancaster, MA).

Seeded #1, the Wolverines will take on the winner of the U/Maine-Boston University Saturday afternoon at 2:00. The championship game is slated for Sunday at 11:00 at Clancy Field in Lynn, MA.

Wolverines Tune Up For Big Weekend

A scrimmage may seem unusual in the closing days of the season, but it was just what the doctor ordered as the BA baseball team faces its biggest challenge of the season with four NECBA conference games this weekend. The results of those games will determine whether or not the Wolverines’ season will be extended to the playoffs the following week. “Today’s scrimmage with Frozen Ropes followed a format that we’ve done over the past three years,” commented Coach Smith. “We didn’t even exchange line-up cards. I was more concerned that all of our pitchers threw today after a layoff of almost two weeks.” Gabe May (Portsmouth, NH) and Sam Stauber (Cumberland, ME) each pitched two innings. Then hurlers Will Whittemore (Waltham, MA), Mike Bullett (Stamford, VT), Tom MacInnes (Plymouth, MA), and Dustin Brown (East Falmouth, MA) each threw one inning apiece. Smith added, “These guys need to be game ready at any point in any game this weekend. Different pitchers also allowed us to take a look at different defensive alignments as well, whether it was guys coming off the bench or starters moving to different positions.” The Wolverines open their quest for the Northern Division championship on Friday as they travel to Lynn, MA, to take on Merrimack College at 7:30.

Wolverines Face Formidable Task

With three games lost to Mother Nature this past weekend, the Wolverine baseball team now faces the daunting task of finishing the 2009 fall season by playing five games within a five-day span, beginning on Wednesday. The schedule is as follows:

21 Wednesday Frozen Ropes/Portland 3:30 HOME

23 Friday Merrimack College 7:30 Breed’s Middle School, Lynn, MA

24 Saturday University New Hampshire 12:00 AWAY (Niver Field)

25 Sunday Fairfield University 12:00 Breed’s Middle School, Lynn, MA

Holy Cross College 4:00 Breed’s Middle School, Lynn, MA

“It’s going to be tough,” says BA mentor Brad Smith, “but everyone is pretty much in the same boat. We just need to concentrate on one game at a time.” The NECBA playoffs, which begin on October 31, are still up in the air for the Wolverines, despite an unblemished 8-0 conference record. “We’re certainly in the driver’s seat, but we have no reason to be complacent, because anything can happen.” Smith hopes that the strength of his pitching staff will make a deciding difference. Hurlers Will Whittemore (Waltham, MA), Tom MacInnes (Plymouth, MA), Gabe May (Portsmouth, NH), Dustin Brown (East Falmouth, ME), and Sam Stauber (Cumberland, ME) are all expected to see action on the mound before the weekend’s over. “The guys are very excited for the challenges that lie ahead. No one would have predicted back when we got together in August that we’d be in this position we’re in right now.” The Wolverines play their final home game of the 2009 fall season this Wednesday at 3:30 (note change from 4:00) against Frozen Ropes/Portland.

Schedule Update

Saturday's Showcase games in Lynn, MA against Holy Cross and Fairfield University have been canceled. No make up date has been scheduled as of now. Sunday's game vs. UNH is still on.

Today's Baseball Game vs. Frozen Ropes Has Been Cancelled

The Wolverines pick up the action again on Saturday against Holy Cross and Fairfield University in Lynn, MA

Botched Play Proves Fortuitous for Wolverines

Seeing a 4-1 lead evaporate in the bottom of the sixth inning, Coach Smith was looking for something to break up the 4-4 tie with Merrimack College as the Wolverines came to bat in the eighth. The BA offense had been silent since the fifth as Merrimack’s pitcher had set the sides down in order in both the sixth and seventh innings. In the top of the eighth with one out, Nick Billingham (Edgartown, MA) walked, stole second, and advanced to third on Ryan Varounis’ (Burlington, MA) sacrifice. With two outs, Smith signaled for a suicide squeeze, a risky play with two outs, hoping to catch the Merrimack defense off guard. With a 1-1 count on Zach Vorous (St. Charles, IL), Billingham broke for home. The Warrior pitcher recognized the play and attempted to adjust his pitch. In his attempt to do so, the pitch went high and Vorous was unable to bunt it; fortunately, the Merrimack catcher was unable to catch it, and Billingham scored on the passed ball with the winning run. Dustin Brown (East Falmouth, MA) pitched a solid two-plus innings for starter Tom MacInnes (Plymouth, MA) to pick to a critical NECBA conference win. The doubleheader sweep puts the Wolverines at 12-1 and 8-0 in conference play. The Wolverines get ready for a Wednesday game at Portland Frozen Ropes.

Wolverines Down Merrimack in Conference Showdown

The BA Wolverines took advantage of solid hitting and a shaky Merrimack College defense as they took the first game of a big NECBA conference doubleheader by the score of 11-0. Will Whittemore (Waltham, MA) rebounded nicely from a tough-luck defeat against Central Maine CC with a nifty two hit shutout. Whittemore struck out eight, including the sides in the third, and did not walk a batter as he notched his fourth win of the season. The BA bats wasted no time as they plated four runs in the first, two in the second, three in the third, and two in the fourth, putting this in the books in a game that took just over an hour to complete. Supporting Whittemore’s effort was Sam Stauber (Cumberland, ME) with two hits and three runs scored. Tom MacInnes (Plymouth, MA) added two hits of his own, including a RBI double in the first. BA’s record now stands at 11-1 and 7-0 in the NECBA conference.

Schedule Change

Please note the game scheduled for Saturday, Home against Merrimack College has been postponed. A makeup date is TBA. The Sunday doubleheader originally scheduled to be played at Merrimack, will be played at HOME.

Wednesday's Game Canceled

This Wednesday's game v Oxford Hills U-18 has been canceled. No reschedule date has been set. The next game for the Wolverines is set for Saturday against Merrimack at home.

Central Maine Ends Wolverine Win Streak at Ten

Avenging an earlier 3-2 loss, the Mustangs of Central Maine Community College combined excellent pitching and timely hitting to defeat the Wolverines 6-0 on Friday afternoon at Holman Diamond. CMCC jumped on BA starter Will Whittemore (Waltham, MA) for all the runs they needed as they scored two runs in the first on a towering home run to right field. Facing one of the toughest pitchers to date, the BA bats were pretty much silent throughout the entire game and were unable to mount any offensive attack. Now 10-1 and 6-0 in NECBA conference play, the Wolverines face Oxford Hills U-18 under the lights at the Field of Dreams Field in Harrison on Wednesday before taking on Merrimack College in the unusual three-game set with a single home game on Saturday and a doubleheader at Merrimack on Sunday.

Wolverine Victory Not a Perfect "10"

It took five innings of lackluster baseball to shake off the rust of inactivity due to weather, but the Wolverines were able to muster two solid innings, scoring four runs in the sixth and seventh to come away with a 10-1 victory over NECBA opponent, the University of New England. The Seahawks jumped on starter Tom MacInnes (Plymouth, MA) for their only run in the first inning and held a slim lead until the Wolverines tied it in the third as Mike Murphy (Lancaster, MA) scored on a UNE error. The eventual game winning run came the very next inning as Tad Gold (Vineyard Haven, MA) walked, stole second, and scored on a sharp RBI single by Zach Vouros (St. Charles, IL). The Wolverine bats came to life in the last two frames as they batted around the order in both frames, thanks largely to a porous UNE defense. The win is the tenth straight for the Wolverines who are 6-0 and atop the Northern Division in the New England Club Baseball Association. Next up for BA is a non-conference home contest against Central Maine Community College on Friday at 3:30.

#33 Tad Gold collected two doubles in helping BA defeat UNE 10-1

#12 Mike Murphy is congratulated after scoring a run

#50 Tom MacInnes delivers a pitch against UNE